N.Y. Dems push for faster rise in minimum wage

6:24 PM,
Feb. 4, 2014

Written by

Jon Campbell
| Albany Bureau

Democrats in the state Legislature are hoping to accelerate New York's scheduled minimum-wage increase, using President Barack Obama's national push to boost their plan.

Senate Democrats on Tuesday promoted a bill meant to change the state's minimum wage procedures, raising the rate to $9 an hour on Dec. 31 and tying future increases to the rate of inflation. A separate bill would let local governments set their own minimum wage.

The acceleration legislation, which is also backed by Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, would put New York on a faster track to $9. Last year, ...